Cooler Summer to Impact Acres, Health and Yields of US Corn and Soybeans
June 5, 2009
PLANALYTICS FORECASTS COOL SUMMER | agrimarketing.com
Lack of sun spot activity, volcano eruption in Alaska and the return of an El Niño all paint a cooler then normal summer for the major crop areas in the US according to this report. What would the impact be on the corn and soybean crops?
The Mississippi River Divide Corn Supplies Next Crop Year Resulting in Higher Prices in the East
May 20, 2009
Corn planting still lags behind average | www.upi.com
Planting of corn east of the Mississippi have been delayed into the second half of May, with a potential reduction in yields and acres. On top of this there has been a reduction of fertilizer applications. The eastern corn belt could suffer more then the western corn belt with supply and basis implications.
American Families Return to Eating At Home
May 13, 2009
General Mills sees eat-at-home trend sticking | www.reuters.com
The economy is forcing many families to revert to eating at home as well as to cut back on prepared dinners. This is a clear benefit for major food companies and super market chains. The big question is will this turn in to a long term trend or is it just a recession cutback.
Swine Flu By Any Other Name Is A-H1N1 or Can Being Called Names Hurt You?
May 1, 2009
H1N1 Influenza A Fallout Assessed | nationalhogfarmer.com
Swine Flu has become the media's and publics' favorite topic and concern. The name alone is impacting the swine producers and pork processors in Mexico, the US and Canada. While the WHO has gone to calling the virus that is not spread by pigs, by its technical name Influenza A-H1N1. There has been so much damage done already that it will take time and major public relations and advertising to stop the blood letting.
Panic: Swine Flu Pandemic To Have Major Impact on Many Grain, Pork and Food Companies
April 27, 2009
Swine flu fears prompt quarantine plans, pork bans | news.yahoo.com
History this decade shows that it will hard to convince consumers that a given meat is safe if people are dying. Companies from grain handlers and soybean processors (Bunge, Cargill, ADM and Louis Dreyfus)as well as swine farmers and pork processors (Smithfield and Tyson) to restaurants and even tour companies serving impacted areas will suffer.
Chinese Soybeans and Procesors Now Look Very Foreign
April 22, 2009
No End to China's Soybean Wars: Chinese Processors Want Foreign Investment -- on Their Own Terms | www.soyatech.com
With 80% of the soybean crushing capacity in China in the hands of foreign companies (ADM, Cargill, Bunge, Louis Dreyfus and Wilmar International) these same companies are also the largest exporters of soybeans to China and importers of soybeans to China. The Chinese government is supporting prices to the farmer, by stock piling the domestic crop. This will probably push Chinese farmers to other crops and continue to concentrate this industry in the hands of the large multinationals.
What Will the Fertilizer Industry Look Like When the Muscial Chairs M&A Ends?
March 30, 2009
Agrium ups offer for CF Industries - Update | www.rttnews.com
So far there have been two major offers made in what seems to be a race for a major merger in the fertilizer industry. CF Industries has increased it's offer to acquire Terra Industries and Agrium has increased it's offer to acquire Agrium. Now there is a rumor that cash rich mining giant BHP Billiton might be looking at Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan again as a potential acquisition candidate.
Is Sugar The New High Fructose Corn Syrup?
March 27, 2009
Sugar Is Back on Food Labels, This Time as a Selling Point - NYTimes.com | www.nytimes.com
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) has been attacked for causing the current obesity in th US, containing mercury, causing diabetes and many other evil. It remains the major sweetener for sweetened sodas. HFCS also remains the largest prime product produced by the wet corn milling industry. If sugar displaces sugar, what happens to the industry?
March 18, 2009
Valero successful in VeraSun auction | www.energycurrent.com
Valero has successfully outbid ADM for the VSE Group of Valero as well as 2 additional plants- a potential sign of hope for a turn around in this industry and a new base price for assets in this sector. This makes them one of the 3 largest ethanol players in the US, as well as the largest oil refiner.
Water will be the next crisis we face, THE GLOBAL GROUP
March 13, 2009
Water in California: Dust to Dust | www.economist.com
The water crisis will be a critical element in not only agriculture but in the ever growing aquaculture field. We ask farmers to produce more with less land, now we will be demanding that they produce even more with less water as well. A situation, if left to its own devises, will make the oil issues we face small in comparison.
Shale gas abundance provides new options for energy companies
February 13, 2012
Chesapeake Energy bites the natural gas bullet
January 25, 2012
Flurry of newbuild drilling rig deliveries in 2012 may dampen rig rates
January 20, 2012
Talisman joins the ranks of cautious E&P companies
January 12, 2012
Early signs of caution begin to cloud frontier exploration and production
January 4, 2012